St Kitts and Nevis (WINN): St. Kitts and Nevis has been commended by US government officials for achievements attained in reforming its juvenile justice system.

The Federation received $900,000 in funding from the US Government through USAID’s 5.8 US million dollar Juvenile Justice Reform Project for the OECS. The funding supported reform efforts, including the provision of training, capacity building, and technical assistance to the New Horizon Rehabilitation Center, the Magistrates Court, and the Department of Probation and Child Services.

During a close-out ceremony for the St. Kitts segment of the program held Wednesday at the New Horizon Rehabilitation Centre for juvenile offenders, Deputy Chief of Mission in the US Embassy to the OECS and Barbados in Bridgetown, Laura Griesmer praised the government’s commitment to changing the lives of young people who had run afoul of the law. St. Kitts and Nevis was the first of three countries under the JJRP to pass a model Child Justice Bill into law.

Lyndel Archibald, who heads the OECS Commission’s Juvenile Justice Reform Project highlighted the magnitude of the work required to ensure juvenile offenders do not get lost in the adult justice system. She underscored the importance of rehabilitating and reintegrating them into society.

Minister of Social Development Eugene Hamilton thanked USAID, the OECS Commission and local stakeholders for assisting the government in providing more opportunities for delinquent youth to blossom into productive members of society.